Maori Party President Hails Benefits of Being “at the Table”

Benefits for te iwi Maori from having its own political party “at the table” of New Zealand’s governing coalition have been hailed by the president of the Maori Party, Rangimarie Naida Glavish.

“Thanks to our being in coalition with the National Party in government, and the constant intercession on our behalf by our two Members of Parliament, Hon Te Ururoa Flavell, Minister for Maori Development, and Marama Fox MP, our people will benefit to the tune of over $100 million in the 2016 Budget announced today,” said Ms Glavish.

Specific Budget allowances for Maori were:
Social services: Extra funding for Whanau Ora: $40 million, and microfinance for whanau and their enterprises: $4 million.
Land: New Maori Land Service: $14.2 million, and assistance to Te Tumu Paeroa landowners: $3.7 million.
Te reo: Establishment of Te Matawai and revitalisation of Maori language: $24 million.
TV: extra funding for Maori Television: $10.6 million.
Electoral: increasing Maori participation: $5 million.
General: New Zealand war commemorations: $4 million.

“Our Minister for Maori Development, Hon Te Ururoa Flavell is releasing full details of these budget allocations specifically for our people, on whose behalf, I want to congratulate both him and Marama for this latest success that springs from their dedicated service as our selected representatives in Parliament and in the coaltiion government. It is another striking demonstration of why our people need our own independent Maori Party to represent our interests in the government, rather than powerless back benchers in a Pakeha-dominated party in opposition,” said Ms Glavish.

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